What exactly is fermentation?

Fermentation is simply a system of steeping solids in a liquid to release naturally occurring bacteria which are good for the health of the gut.

You've probably heard of probiotics - that's exactly what fermentation produces. As well as making it hard for "bad" bacteria to survive in the gut, they make food more digestible and increase the supply of protein available. At the same time, the process increases the amounts of Vitamins K, C and B.

Are fermented foods healthy?

As you might guess from the information above, the answer to that is a resounding "Yes!", for both humans and chickens (and other animals too).

Bacteria are a vital part of our ability to digest and use foods. These days, medications such as antibiotics and the availability of fast foods can deplete the number of "good" bacteria our guts make naturally. That means food is not absorbed as well as it might be and our body loses out on the nutrients it needs to function healthily.

The benefits of eating fermented foods - for people and chickens!

The net result is that we become more prone to infection and illness.

Fermentation increases the number of bacteria so that our guts are literally teeming with them. While that may not sound very pleasant, the fact is that it's exactly what we need.

And it's no different for chickens.

What are the specific benefits for chickens?

Here's what studies about the benefits of the fermentation process specifically for chickens have concluded :

High protein content makes it particularly good for chickens in the winter, and for moulting / unwell birds

Good for new chicks - keeps them hydrated and protein aids growth

Less food wastage - chickens do not kick it all over their run!

Once they get used to it, chickens love it!

The most important benefit ...

Probably the most important benefit of fermentation is the resistance to infection which fermented foods provide.

In fact, they're so efficient at preventing infection that in commercial livestock rearing where antibiotics aren't allowed or aren't wanted, fermented foods are used as a matter of course to keep animals healthy.

Are there any drawbacks?

The fermentation process can have varying outcomes. A consistent temperature is needed for the best results.

Chickens can take time to get used to the taste - it's best to introduce fermented foods while they're young chicks.

There's
some evidence from research (see (1) below) that, as with any high
protein food, fermented foods can increase chickens' weight,
particularly in poultry bred for their meat.

Fermenting chicken feed

That can be a positive benefit in chickens who've been ill, for example, or to help through the moult, but it can also lead to health issues : fat chickens are not healthy!

There was evidence in one trial of the feed itself becoming contaminated (2), but that was found to be a problem with the quality of the feed and the process, not the fermentation itself.

One study (3) found that fermented food sometimes produced botulism, caused by a toxic bacteria. However, it also made clear that the fermenting food was stored for too long in airtight, plastic containers.

As long as you use a good quality feed, keep the fermenting foods in a good quality container, follow instructions and allow your chickens time to get used to it, there really shouldn't be any problems.

If you'd like to know more about high protein foods for chickens, these pages will help.

Just click on the pics.

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Sources.

Information I give you on this page is based on both my own experience and on facts from scientific, peer-reviewed research. Some of the sources I have used are these :

(3) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US : 'Why does Alaska have more botulism?'

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